Adjustable immobilization device



Aug. 22, 1967 M. T. TAYLOR 3,336,922

ADJUSTABLE IMMOBILIZATION DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MAQVN TAYLOQ ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1967 M. T. TAYLOR ADJUSTABLE IMMOBILIZATION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1965 INVENTOR MAQWN T Tm/Lmz ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,336,922 ADJUSTABLE IMMOBILIZATION DEVICE Marvin T. Taylor, Madison, Tenn., assignor t0 the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs and/ or the Secretary of the Army Filed Jan. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 425,643 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-75) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to immobilization devices and more particularly to an immobilization device used to reduce or treat a fracture or dislocation, or to treat a deformity of the cervical spine. The device is vertically, horizontally and rotatably adjustable, and has a double halo and skull pins.

This invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

An object of this invention is to provide a multi-adjustable frame for holding a patients head in a fixed, predetermined position while a fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine is healing.

Another object is to provide a multi-adjustable frame which can be manipulated while in place on a patient to reduce a fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine and which can be used during surgical stabilization of the spine.

Another object is to provide a multi-adjustable frame which can be adjusted on the patient to gradually correct a deformity of the spine.

Another object is to provide a cervical spinal immobilization frame which is vertically, laterally and rotatably adjustable.

The structural features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire frame assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the frame in place on a patient;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the frame showing various adjusting means;

FIG; 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable connection between the main vertical rods of the frame and the frame foundation; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified version of the frame.

Referring to the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, the foundation of the frame consists of two vertical rigid straps 1, curved to fit to the patients shoulders and a horizontal rigid strap 2 connected to straps 1 and curved to fit around the patients abdomen. Brackets 3 are attached to straps 1 and tubes 4 are attached to brackets 3. Rods 5 extend through tubes 4 and are threaded where they pass through brackets 3. Lock nuts 6 are placed on rods 5 at the outer ends of brackets 3. Serrated disks 7 are attached to the upper ends of rods '5. Serrated disks 7 intermesh with serrated disks 8 which are adjustably attached to the lower ends of vertical frame rods 9 and 10. Serrated disks 7 and 8 are held together by wing nuts 11 and bolts 12.

Vertical frame rods 9 are flared at their upper portions to allow head room and have substantially horizontal extensions 13 at their uppermost ends. Tubes 14 fit over extensions 13, and, together with connecting rod 15, make up the main horizontal frame. Tubes 14 are adjustably attached to rods 13 and 15 by Allen-type set screws. Four short tubes 16 are welded or otherwise attached perpendicularly to tubes 14 as shown in FIGS. 1

and 3. Rods 17 connect tubes 16 with cross tubes 18. Allen-type set screws are used to adjustably fasten tubes 16 and 18 to rods 17.

Upper halo 19 is welded or otherwise attached to tubes 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Adjustably attached around halo 19 are three horizontal tubes 29, and attached to tubes 20 are vertical tubes 21. Vertical eye bolts 22 depend through tubes 21, are threaded at their upper end, and are adjustably attached to tubes 21 by lock nuts. Tubes 20 are attached to halo 19 by Allen-type set screws. The lower ends of eye bolts 22 are fastened to lower halo 23 by bolts 24. As shown in FIG. 1, lower halo 23 has several threaded holes around its circumference through which threaded skull pins 25 pass. There are preferably four skull pins and they are tapered at the innermost end to provide for penetration of the outer table of the skull only. Lock nuts 28 prevent motion of the pins once they are in place. Halo 23 is elevated slightly posteriorly at 26 to allow access to the occipital area.

In operation, foundation straps 1 and 2 are placed against the patients body and are incorporated into a plaster jacket 27 which is well padded over the iliac crests to receive the greatest portion of the weight of the frame. Lower halo 23 is placed over the patients head, and skull screws 25 are extended into the outer table of the patients skull under local anesthetic. Once halo 23 is in place, the patients head can be manipulated in any desired direction by the series of adjustment means above described. Vertical adjustment of the entire frame is provided by adjusting rods 5 and lock nuts 6. Serrated disks 7 and 8 permit rotation at the joint between'rods 5 and 9 and provide anterior-posterior rotational adjustment of the entire frame. Sliding rods 17 between tubes 16 and 18 permits lateral adjustment of upper halo 19 and consequently lateral adjustment of the patients head. Sliding rods 13 into or out of tubes 14 provides anterior-posterior adjustment of the halo. Rotational adjustment of lower halo 23 is provided by sliding tubes 20 around halo 19. Vertical adjustment between halo 19 and halo 23 is provided by adjusting rods 22 and their lock nuts over tubes 21.

Because of the adjustability of this double halo it has been possible to utilize this device in the treatment of a variety of conditions involving the cervical spine. The device can be used to reduce fractures or dislocations by manipulation both as a closed method of treatment and under direct vision at the operating table. Surgical stabilization is carried out with the patient in the halo, and the entire post-operative period of immobilization is usually completed with the patient ambulatory in the device. The double halo has also been used to provide gradual correction of a severe fiexion deformity of the spine by applying small day-by-day adjustments. Fusion of the spine is then carried out with the halo in place and the halo is kept on until stabilization has occurred. Indicated uses of the double halo include treatment of abnormalities arising from ankylosing spondylitis, a Klippel-Feil anomaly, poliomyelitise, laminectomy following metastatic tumor, and for cervical scoliosis.

I claim:

1. A device for immobilizing a comprising:

(a) a foundation adapted to be secured to and supported by the patients torso when in use;

(b) an adjustable frame extending above the patients head when in use;

(0) adjustable means for attaching said frame to said foundation;

((1) means depending from said frame to engage the patients skull, said means having a lower loop and an upper loop, said upper loop being attached to said frame;

patients cervical spine (e) universally adjustable means for connecting said upper and lower loops; and

(f) means for attaching said lower loop to the patients skull when in use.

2. A device for immobilizing a patients cervical spine as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjustable frame comprises:

(a) a plurality of substantially vertical rods having sub stantially horizontal distal portions;

(b) a plurality of horizontally-extending tubes into which said horizontal distal portions of said rods are adjustably inserted; and

(c) a plurality of cross tubes adjustably connected to said horizontally-extending tubes.

3. A device for immobilizing a patients cervical spine as recited in claim 1 wherein said universally adjustable means for connecting said upper and lower loops comrises:

p (a) a plurality of horizontal tubes attached to and free to slide on said upper loop;

(b) a plurality of vertically disposed tubes attached to said horizontal tubes; and

(c) a plurality of rods adjustably depending through said vertically disposed tubes, said lower loop being adjustably connected to the lower end of said depending rods.

4. A device for immobilizing a patients cervical spine as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said lower loop to the patients skull comprises a plurality of pins adjustably mounted in said lower loop.

5. A device for immobilizing a patients cervical spine as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjustable means for attaching said frame to said foundation enables said frame to be vertically adjustable and rotatably adjustable at its junction with said foundation.

6. A device for immobilizing a patients cervical spine as recited in claim 5 wherein said adjustable means for attaching said frame to said foundation comprises:

(a) a plurality of brackets connected to said ,foundation;

(b) a tube connected to each of said brackets;

(c) a rod passing through each of said tubes and extending beyond said tubes;

(d) means for securing said rods within said tubes;

(e) a first serrated disk attached to an end of each of said rods;

(f) a second serrated disk adjustably attached to each of said vertically disposed rods of said frame, each of said second serrated disks meshing with each of said first serrated disks; and

(g) releasable means for securing each of said first serrated disks with each of said second serrated disks.

7. device for immobilizing a patients cervical spine,

comprising:

(a) a foundation adapted to be secured to and supported by the patients torso;

(b) a frame attached to said foundation and extending when in use above the patients head, said frame comprising a plurality of substantially vertical rods having substantially horizontal distal portions, a plurality of horizontally-extending tubes into which said rods are adjustably inserted, and a plurality of cross tubes adjustably connected to said horizontally-extending tubes;

(c) an upper loop attached to said cross tubes;

(d) a plurality of horizontal tubes attached to and free to slide on said upper loop;

(e) a plurality of vertically disposed tubes attached to said horizontal tubes;

(f) a plurality of rods adjustably depending through said vertically disposed tubes;

(g) a lower loop adjustably attached to the lower end of said depending rods; and

(h) a plurality of pins adjustably mounted in said lower loop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,166,229 7/1939 Anderson 12884 2,474,200 6/ 1949 McBee 12887 2,706,982 4/1955 Hale et al. 12887 3,053,256 9/1962 Cooper et a1. 128303 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,783 3/ 1945 France. 140,162 12/1960 U.S.S.R.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. E. MORGAN, Examiner.

J. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR IMMOBILIZING A PATIENT''S CERVICAL SPINE COMPRISING: (A) A FOUNDATION ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO AND SUPPORTED BY THE PATIENT''S TORSO WHEN IN USE; (B) AN ADJUSTABLE FRAME EXTENDING ABOVE THE PATIENT''S HEAD WHEN IN USE; (C) ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID FRAME TO SAID FOUNDATION; (D) MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID FRAME TO ENGAGE THE PATIENT''S SKULL, SAID MEANS HAVING A LOWER LOOP AND AN UPPER LOOP, SAID UPPER LOOP BEING ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME; (E) UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID UPPER AND LOWER LOOPS; AND (F) MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID LOWER LOOP TO THE PATIENT''S SKULL WHEN IN USE. 